JANUARY_UNIKUM_WEB

Àngels, Spain
My personal experience at UiA as an Erasmus Student was
fantastic. The welcome from the Erasmus Student Association
(ESN) was extremely useful for both logistical organisation (what
I needed to do, what I needed to know, where I had to go…) and
social exchanges (activities, barbeques, get togethers, tours…).
All I knew from friends that had done a semester abroad was
“find the people from your own country and stick with them,
or you’ll be on your own.” While that was true at UiA for some
people, Orientation Week with buddy groups opened a whole
other reality for me. I was able to meet and become friends with
a variety of people.
Nevertheless, if I had to criticize something, I would mention how
luck plays a big role when it comes to the buddies you get. Not
only because of the activities that they prepare for you, but also
for their involvement with the group. Despite the differences in
experiences between buddy groups, the first week of the semester
works wonders to meet new people, and if your buddies are not
active, be active yourself! ESN organises many events that are
open to all international students and those are the best ones in
my opinion. Apart from that first week, UiA was a great place to
study and socialise. The classes were really easy to follow and
absolutely accessible to internationals (as were most of the clubs
or activities offered). I consider Kristiansand a great place to
spend your semester abroad: easy classes, welcoming university,
and a lot of new people to meet from all over the world.
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